BC businesses defy province's proof of vaccination program

After BC launched its "vaccine passport" program for a myriad of 'non-essential' services, several businesses defied the public health order requiring them to check customers for proof of vaccination.

Rolly's Restaurant, in Hope, BC said they will refute the order requiring proof of vaccination over discrimination concerns against potential customers. They "would rather let diners decide for themselves if they feel comfortable inside the restaurant," its owners said, in a statement to Global News.

Provincial Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth pushed back against that assertion, contending, "this isn't discrimination against clients."

"This is recognizing the bulk of the people in this province are vaccinated, and the way we're going to defeat this virus is by everybody getting vaccinated," said Farnworth.

Rolly's hosted a PPC meet and greet Friday, where local candidate Rob Bogunovic had signs reading "informed consent" and "no coercion." The party has publicly opposed vaccine mandates, a policy at the centre of its bid to win seats on Monday's election.

In Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood, Corduroy restaurant — which previously defied provincial health orders that suspended indoor dining and restricting capacity — now appears to be testing the durability of the province's proof of vaccination program. The restaurant is operating counter service only to exploit a purported "loophole" in the current order, which stipulates the involvement of table service.

However, the provincial health order enacting proof of vaccination applies to "all liquor-licensed establishments, regardless of whether table service involved."

A third restaurant, Esquimalt's Sunnyside Cafe, which pre-emptively vowed to defy the proof of immunization program,  posted a video to Facebook this week reiterating its stance.

Asked about the non-compliance, Farnworth said, "there could be violations of their liquor licensing, there could be WorkSafe [BC] violations, there could be COVID safety plan violations," adding that BC's interagency enforcement would look into potential loopholes and determine the need for enforcement as needed.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Premier John Horgan indicated the province wasn't focused on crackdowns.

"We've been working on trying to have a very soft touch on enforcement," he said. "We've made this about following the lead of the public, and the public wants confidence that when they go out to these nonessential activities.

The vaccine card rolled out on September 13, mandating that residents have at least one dose of a COVID vaccine to access non-essential services and recreational facilities. They have until October 24 to get fully vaccinated to access non-essential services.

As of Friday, nearly 79 percent of eligible BC residents are vaccinated.

Fully vaccinated individuals represented a mere five percent of cases in critical care in the province and account for less than 14 percent of all COVID hospitalizations the past two weeks.